Features for the week beginning Monday, June 8, 2009

Audiofiles are 44.1khz/mono/48kbps.

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The 3 features below are produced by K-State Radio Network agriculture director Eric Atkinson and his staff.

	AGRICULTURE FEATURES
1	FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT OPTIONS *Q…K-State Radio Network.*	3:00
2	WHEAT INSECT DAMAGE *Q...K-State Radio Network.*	3:00
3	U.S. ECONOMIC CONDITIONS *Q...K-State Radio Network.*	3:00

The 9 cuts below are the script and soundbites which make up the 3 pieces above.

AGRICULTURE SOUNDBITES

FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT OPTIONS (Eric Atkinson)

When it comes to row crop nutrient management, phosphorus and potassium tend to draw less attention than does nitrogen. Yet they’re essential to crop productivity. A K-State crop fertility specialist advises growers to use one of two management systems when applying these two nutrients. Dorivar Ruiz-Diaz describes these as the “feed the crop” and “feed the soil” approaches.

Track 4 (:26) Q…soil test level.

The nutrient sufficiency approach to managing phosphorus and potassium is based on what K-State researchers have determined as the critical levels for each…and it calls on the producer to fertilize every crop, every growing season.

Track 5 (:26) Q...fertilizer that year.

The build-and-maintain approach, on the other hand, allows a producer to be more selective about phosphorus and potassium applications.

Track 6 (1:00) Q...about it that way.

TAG: K-State soil fertility specialist Dorivar Ruiz-Diaz, talking about two methods of managing phosphorus and potassium crop fertilizer.

WHEAT INSECT DAMAGE (Eric Atkinson)

Once again this wheat harvest, Kansas growers should be alert for possible crop damage from the wheat head armyworm. This pest feeds on ripening wheat kernels, and can lead to price discounts at the elevator. K-State crop entomologist J.P. Michaud (mih-SHOW) talks more about this armyworm, which has become more of a problem in Kansas fields in recent years.

Track 7 (:44) Q…and fly away.

But again, because the damage resembles that of stored-grain insect feeding, growers can be discounted for grain delivered in that condition. Furthermore, there’s no pre-harvest insecticide treatment option available to growers.

Track 8 (:21) Q...pre-harvest interval.

There is one harvesting strategy that can help a producer lessen the impact of the armyworm’s feeding, according to Michaud.

Track 9 (:50) Q…are usually fine.

TAG: On harvesting management of wheat infested with the wheat head armyworm, that’s K-State crop entomologist J.P. Michaud.

U.S. ECONOMIC CONDITIONS (Nick Levendofsky)

The state of the U.S. economy has dominated the news headlines for quite some time, and one agricultural economist at K-State says the economy is slowly beginning to recover. K-State agricultural economist Vincent Amanor-Boadu (Awm-uh-nor-Bow-uh-doo) has been watching the economy very closely, and says there are three different solutions that must be forged to address the current economic conditions- part of the lesson learned over the last few months. Boadu discusses the first of three points- economic interconnection.

Track 10 (:24) Q…in the economy.

Boadu discusses the global influence on the U.S. economy.

Track 11 (1:03) Q...dimensions of it.

Boadu notes the third point deals with economic creativity.

Track 12 (:20) Q...minimize their impacts.

TAG: That’s Vincent Amanor-Boadu, K-State agricultural economist, discussing the current condition of the U.S. economy and how it has improved over the last few months.

The features below are soundbites only.

FAMILY AND CONSUMER

HOW FATHERS ARE VIEWED – Father’s Day is June 21^st, but if you haven’t seen as many sales or hoopla as you did for Mother’s Day it’s because Father’s Day doesn’t generate as many retail dollars. However, a child development specialist at Kansas State University says we shouldn’t overlook the important role fathers play in a child’s life. Chuck Smith says the fact that retailers treat Father’s Day differently than Mother’s Day is probably a reflection of how consumers treat the two holidays.

Q...Extension programs.

:21

ABOUT DADS RADIO PODCAST – One of the Extension-related programs Smith has undertaken is a Web podcast called About Dads Radio.

Q...affect fatherhood.

:45

CHILDREN NEED BOTH PARENTS – Although we continually hear that children only need one parent to be emotionally healthy and successful in life, Smith says that’s not entirely true.

Q...to raise a child.

:36

FATHER: A NOUN AND A VERB – Father has two meanings. As a noun, it is simply the male parent. But, as a verb, Smith says the word carries a lot more weight.

Q...to that child.

:25

A BIOLOGICAL CONNECTION – Smith believes there is a strong biological connection between a father and his children, including how they interact.

Q...from their mother.

Tag: More information on child development and parenting is available on the K-State Extension Web site at www.ksre.ksu.edu.

:43

LAWN AND GARDEN

KNOWING THE SUN REQUIREMENT – If you’ve ever bought plants, you’ve probably noticed that they usually come labeled with their sun exposure requirements. But, measuring sun exposure is not an exact science. In fact, it can often be difficult to determine how much sun hits certain areas of the yard. K-State Research and Extension ornamental landscape horticulturist Emily Nolting sun requirement is the major consideration in deciding what plant to put in what location.

Q...sun requirement.

:46

PARTIAL SHADE; NOT PARTIAL SUN – Nolting says there will also be labels that call for plants to be grown in partial shade.

Q...know the plants.

Tag: Nolting says one of the best ways to determine which plants will work well in your landscape is to visit the K-State Research and Extension Web site at www.ksre.ksu.edu and look at the Prairie Star Flowers in the Lawn and Garden section. The Prairie Star Flowers have been trialed in Kansas and will tell you which ones are the most heat and sun tolerant.

:37

SUN REQUIREMENT IS SITE SPECIFIC – Nolting says there are other factors, such as structures and trees that may affect the sun requirement for certain areas in your home landscape.

Q...for the plants.

:24

BENEFITS OF A SOIL TEST – Most gardeners think soil tests are only done to find out what nutrients are deficient. However, Alan Stevens, a researcher and horticulturist with K-State Research and Extension’s Research Center in Olathe, says a soil test can keep us from adding fertilizer that’s not needed.

Q...until we test.

:43

ALWAYS CHECK THE LABEL – We want to avoid adding fertilizer if it’s not needed because it’s expensive and adds chemicals to the environment. But, fertilizer is necessary for good plant growth. There are many fertilizers available, but finding the right one shouldn’t be difficult. Stevens says, by law, fertilizer is labeled with three numbers denoting the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.

Q...once a month.

Tag: One of the potential risks of fertilizing is applying too much. Stevens says one sign you’ve over-fertilized is when the tips of the leaves turn brown.

:41

The features below are self-contained and fully-produced.

	KANSAS PROFILE
23	HELEN JUDD – HAYS HOUSE Q...with Kansas Profile.	4:21

MILK LINES

SUMMER MASTITIS PREVENTION – The bacteria that can lead to mastitis in dairy cows thrive in summer conditions. So, dairy producers need to have their mastitis prevention programs running at full stride, says Research and Extension dairy specialist Mike Brouk (Brook). That includes sanitation, vaccinations and other treatments.

Q...(theme music)

2:00

OUTBOUND KANSAS

POND FISH KILLS – Early every summer, K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee gets numerous calls from farm pond owners, who lament that the fish in their ponds are dying. This is often the result of an oxygen shortage in the pond, which occurs during hot, still days and nights. Charlie explains further the process that leads to this oxygen depletion, and what should be done to respond quickly to it.

Q...(theme music)

5:00

SOUND LIVING

THE IMPORTANT ROLE FATHERS PLAY – Father’s Day is June 21^st, but it’s a holiday that often flies under the radar. Retailers don’t make as big of a fuss over Father’s Day as Mother’s Day. And, the gifts…BBQ grills, saws and handy vacs…are far different than the flowers, spa treatments and jewelry moms often receive. But, a child development specialist at Kansas State University says we shouldn’t overlook the role fathers play in a child’s life. On today’s Sound Living: the importance of being a father.

Q…K-State Radio Network.

14:50

TREE TALES from the Kansas Forest Service

Cut 27 contains music, Cut 28 identical, but without music

KANSAS WINDBREAK INVENTORY – Ever since the Dust Bowl days, tree windbreaks and shelter belts have proven invaluable in their ability to reduce wind erosion. Too many of those windbreaks, though, are now showing the wear and tear of time. A new effort by the Kansas Forest Service will document the actual condition of windbreaks and shelter belts in the state. K-State forester Bob Atchison talks about that project.

Q…(theme music)

2:00

(same as above, but without music bed) Q...K-State Radio Network.

1:59

WHEAT SCOOP – from the Kansas Wheat Commission Q...for Kansas Wheat.

3:04

	WEATHER WONDERS (Featuring Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library, KSU)
30	THE 1966 TOPEKA TORNADO *Q...Research and Extension.*	1:01
31	LIGHTNING FOLK “REMEDIES” *Q...Research and Extension.*	:56
32	OBSERVING ST. ELMO’S FIRE *Q...Research and Extension.*	:45

PERSPECTIVE

POVERTY AND EDUCATION – Inequalities are pervasive in every aspect of American society. The one that has perhaps one of the more insidious influences is that within our system of education. Research done by an expert at Kansas State University indicates that the U.S. education system’s relationship with poverty has not seen any improvement, and a more in-depth understanding of the impact of poverty is needed for social transformation to take place. And to do that it is crucial for new teachers to know and understand the impact of poverty.

Q…K-State Radio Network.

27:00